Application of Advanced Nursing Practice Framework - Essay Example

 A particular symptom of GERD is heartburn. Other indications involve regurgitation, epigastric pain, hoarseness, wheezing, and coughing. 

Pathophysiology of HTN

          As indicated by the pathophysiology of hypertension (HTN) research, high blood pressure could be categorized as either essential or secondary. The former, essential hypertension is a pressure increase because of unidentified clinical causes. While, secondary hypertension is a pressure increase because of some other primary health illnesses such as kidney problems, tumors, diabetes, etc. Chronic hypertension can lead to stroke, heart failure, heart disease, heart attack, and other illnesses.

*taken from Izzo, Sica & Black, 2007

Pathophysiology of DM

          The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus is connected to insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas’s beta cells. This hormone is in charge of sustaining the glucose amount in the blood. It enables the cells to utilize glucose as the primary source of energy. Yet, in a person suffering from diabetes, because of anomalous insulin metabolism, the body tissues and cells do not utilize glucose from the blood, leading to an increased glucose level in the blood or also called ‘hyperglycemia’. The high glucose level in the blood can result in serious complications over a period of time, like nerve problems, kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases, and eye disorders.

*taken from LeRoith, Olefsky & Taylor, 2003

Pathophysiology of Osteopenia

          Osteopenia stands for bone mineral density (BMD) that is below normal BMD level but not severely low to be categorized as osteoporosis. Bone mineral density is an assessment of the mineral levels in the bones, which shows how firm and solid they are. If a person has a low BMD, s/he has osteopenia. Developing osteopenia implies there is a higher risk that, over time, a person could have BMD that is quite lower than normal, referred to as ‘osteoporosis’.  

*taken from McIlwain, Cruse, Bruce, & McIlwain, 2004

 Application of Advanced Nursing Practice Framework

          Three distinct methods of abdominal pain assessment may be determined from the evaluation, which is (1) the appearance of the patient (dependence on observation), (2) the gestures and statements of the patient (dependence on the expressions of the patient), and (3) the normal condition (dependence on typology). In evaluating the postoperative pain of the patient, the nurse should depend on one of these three methods to get attain the level and quality of the abdominal pain of the patient during the assessment.

          When the nurse depends on ‘the appearance of the patient’ or observation, s/he will make use of information gathered concerning objective facts such as posture or movements, skin color, vital signs to get to abdominal pain assessment. In contrast, when the nurse depends on ‘the gestures and statements of the patient’ or expressions, the nurse will have to regard the patient’s statement and gesture as the appropriate information for the type and level of abdominal pain the patient is experiencing. The nurse depending on ‘the normal condition’ or typology should pay attention to the conditions and characteristics of diagnostic or special tests, the time since the examination, or the characteristics of the patient like sex, age, etc. in identifying the kind of pain felt by the patient.        

*taken from Whyte, 1997

Application of Family Stress Theory

          Family stress theory offers a way of assessing the efforts of the family to cope with several stressors brought about by the patient’s experiences of abdominal pain. A family condition deals with various pressures, demands, and changes simultaneously. Minor stressors, like demands of caregiving, responsibility, and role change arise from the main stressors and these pressures usually may be hard to resolve. Resources available to the patient’s family are interpersonal, social, psychological, and material features of the individual members of the family and of the community (Catherall, 2005).  

          Based on the three methods aforementioned, nurses can employ problem-solving sessions, education, family therapy, and individual therapy as initiatives for the patient’s caregivers. When nurses make use of family stress theory, they should take advantage of the resources since resources can constructively affect adaptation, perception, and coping.

Cost Analysis

          The costs of the lab tests and special tests are enumerated below. This cost analysis is just a rough estimate of the current cost of lab tests and abdominal ultrasound in the US.

1) Urinalysis ($25-35)

2) Abdominal Ultrasound ($420)

Total Cost = around $455

Ethical Considerations

          The patient’s condition is generally categorized under the ethical code of ‘health and wellbeing’ (Catherall, 2005). Under this principle, the nurse will inform the patient of the treatment of her illness. She will also assist her in learning about using the services of health care providers and community organizations that can support her. 

          This principle also puts emphasis on the role of the nurse in fostering a better environment for the patient in order for her to gain the chance of working towards a healthier condition. The role of the nurse makes her informed of societal concerns that have to be dealt with for the well-being of the community to be maximized